Explosive device to force a wedge into a clamp for clamping cables



w. F. BROSKE 3,212,534 EXPLOSIVE DEVICE TO FORCE A WEDGE INTO A CLAMPOct. 19, 1965 FOR CLAMPING CABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1962INVENTOR. WILLIAM r, 6ROSKE Oct. 19, 1965 w. F. BROSKE 3,212,534

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE To FORCE A WEDGE INTO A CLAMP FOR CLAMPING CABLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1962 INVENTOR. \mLLmM F. BRosma M, W/M

United States Patent 3,212,534 EXPLOSIVE DEVICE T0 FORCE A WEDGE INTO ACLAMP FOR CLAMPING CABLES William F. Broske, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor toAMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. File'd Aug. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 215,5626 Claims. '(Cl. 140-113) In the art of making pressure-type electricalconnections, it is frequently desirable to employ a powderactuated toolto provide the power to form the connection. In a typical application,conductors are grasped between a wedge and a C-shaped member to make astable connection. This type of connection is described in a priorapplication, Serial No. 172,183, filed February 9, 1962.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedpowder-actuated tool for causing this type of connection to be formed. Aspecific improvement in the tool resides in the use of a minimum numberof parts, thus providing a simple mechanism for permitting the tool tobe fired.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a tool which may beactuated by striking it with a hammer or a pair of pliers, whereby thereaction force drives the firing pin against the primerto detonate theexplosive charge.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tool made according to theprinciples of the invention and showing a connector and conductorstherein;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1without the connector and conductors;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the tool after firing;and

FIGURES 46 illustrate the tool of FIGURE 1 in the pre-fired, firing andpost-fired conditions (respectively).

As shown in FIGURES l and 4-6, a pair of conductors C and C are adaptedto be disposed within a C- shaped connector body A, having a slidablewedge W designed to hold the connectors in place as described above.

The tool includes a body or frame member B, and a firing mechanism F.The body member is comprised of a flat, planar member adapted to receivea connector body A, of the type disclosed in the above-mentionedcopending application. This planar member 10 is supported by alongitudinal rib 12, and has a post 14 at one end to restrain theconductor and connector during the crimping operation. A second post 16at the opposite end is adapted to receive the barrel of the firingmember. The post 14 has a pair of recessed portions 18 and 20 whichpermit the conductors C and C to be received therein. Post 14 also has alip 22 projecting toward the other post 16 which fits over the top ofthe connector body A when the connector and conductors are in place (seeFIGURE 1).

3,212,534 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 The firing mechanism F (FIGURES 2, 3and 5) includes a barrel 24 with external screw threads 26 which matewith screw threads 28 in an aperture 30 in the post 16. The barrel 24 islongitudinally coaxial with the the wedge W. The central section of thebarrel 24 contains an opening 32 through which section 33 of a rammember 34 moves as well as retains ram member 34 therein. The opening 32is undercut at 36 to permit sliding motion of another section 38 of rammember 34. An abutting surface 35 is located at the intersection ofsections 32 and 38.

The opposite end of the opening is also undercut at 40, forming anabutment 41, to accept a shoulder 42 on the other end of the ram member.The length (FIGURE 2) of the undercut 40 is greater than the length ofthe shoulder 42 to permit movement of ram member 34 so that it can slidein a direction away from the wedge W. The abutment 41 limitslongitudinal travel of ram member 34. The barrel 24 is further recessedat 43 to define a chamber to permit an explosive shell 44 to be insertedtherein.

The explosive shell is disclosed in my prior application, Serial No.793,814, filed February 17, 1959 (now Patent No. 3,007,409), andincludes a cylindrical member 46 sealed at one end 48, and having a plug50 seated therein. The plug 50 retains a powder charge 52 and also has aprimer 54 on its outer surface. A projection 56 on the inner end ofsection 38 operates to detonate the primer 54, thus igniting the powdercharge 52. The shell has a shoulder 58 which seats against one end ofthe barrel 24 to support it therein.

A cap 60 is threaded over the end of the barrel 24 and has a pin 62 inits inside surface which punctures the sealed end of the shell 44. Theouter surface of the barrel 24 may contain radially-extending ridges 64to permit the operator to grasp the barrel more easily. Also, a ring 66may be attached to the rib 12 to permit the operator to suspend thedevice from a peg or his belt when not in use.

0perati0n.When it is desired to make an electrical connection, theconnector body A is fitted on the planar member 10 with the lip 22securing it therein. The conductors C and C are inserted in oppositearms of the connector with the wedge W inserted therebetween. The barrel24, with the ram member therein, is threaded into the post 16 and thisprovides an adjustable feature so that the edge of barrel 24 can bebrought into engagement with wedge W. A shell 44 is forced into thefiring chamber in the barrel with the section 38 of the ram memberprojecting into the shell. The shoulder 42 on the ram member is retainedwithin the undercut 40 by the wedge W, while allowing rearward movementof the ram member.

A cap 60 is threaded onto the outer surface of the barrel 24 with thepin 62 puncturing the closed end of the shell. The cap is then struck asharp blow with a hammer or a pair of pliers, and the reaction from theblow causes ram member 34 to move toward the primer 54 with sufiicientforce to cause detonation. This ignites the powder charge 52 and theplug 50 is driven forward, forcing ram member 34 ahead of it. Ram member34 drives the wedge W into the connector body A, thus tightly securingthe conductors C and C' between the wedge W and the connector body A.

After the connection is made, the cap 60 may be unthreaded from thebarrel and the release of the cap and the pin 62 permits burnt gases toescape from the shell. This relaxes the shell and permits it to beremoved rather easily. The ram member may be moved rearwardly to drivethe shell 44 partially out of the chamber, thus permitting easy accessto it. The tool is then ready to make another connection.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modification and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A tool for making electrical connections comprising frame meanshaving a stationary section against which one element of a connectionassembly engages, a power unit on said frame means including a barrelmember having a chamber for receiving an explosive means, means on saidbarrel member to maintain said explosive means within said chamber, aram member movably mounted in said chamber having one end for engagementwith another element of said connection assembly and another end fordisposition within a hollow portion of said explosive means to define anenclosed chamber, said explosive means having detonating means fordisposition adjacent said other end of said ram member, said other endof said ram member being reactively driven against said detonating meansupon said power unit being struck a forceful blow to detonate saidexplosive means thereby forcefully driving said ram member outwardlyrelative to said barrel member to forcefully drive the other elementinto the one element.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein means are provided on said framemeans and said power unit to permit said power unit to be adjustablerelative thereto.

3. In a tool to drive one member into another member, a frame having anarea in which one of said members is to be disposed, a firing means onsaid frame for engaging the other of said members, said firing meanshaving a cartridge-receiving chamber for receiving an explosivecartridge, a ram member movably disposed in said firing means and havingone section for engaging the other of said members and another sectiondisposed in said cartridge-receiving chamber, said other section beingdisposed within a hollow portion of said explosive cartridge and alongtherewith defining an enclosed chamber, means on said firing means fordisposition adjacent the end of said explosive cartridge to maintainsaid enclosed chamber closed, and detonating means in said explosivecartridge for disposition adjacent said other section of said rammember, said other section of said ram member being reactively drivenagainst said detonating means upon said firing means being struck aforceful low to detonate said explosive cartridge thereby driving saidone section exteriorly of said firing means and drive said members intofrictional engagement with each other. 4. In a tool according to claim 3wherein said ram member includes means to engage a portion of saidfiring means to prevent said ram member from leaving said firing meansafter the firing of said explosive cartridge. 5. An explosively-operatedtool for performing useful work to drive one member relative to anothermember comprising a frame member for engagement with one of saidmembers, firing means on said frame member including a chamber forreceiving an explosive means, a ram member movably mounted in saidfiring means, said ram member having a first and second section, saidfirst section for disposition in a hollow portion of said explosivemeans adjacent detonating means thereof, said second section engageablewith another of said members, said first section being reactively drivenagainst said detonating means upon said firing means being struck aforceful blow to detonate said explosive means thereby forcefullydriving said ram member and driving one of said members relative to theother.

6. An explosively-operated tool according to claim 5 wherein said firstsection of said ram member and said explosive means define an enclosedchamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,803 2/36Temple 339276 2,106,724 2/ 38 Cope 339247 2,141,098 12/38 Wahlstrom339-276 2,968,043 1/61 Demler.

3,044,071 7/62 Behrend 144.5

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner.

1. A TOOL FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS COMPRISING FRAME MEANSHAVING A STATIONARY SECTION AGAINST WHICH ONE ELEMENT OF A CONNECTIONASSEMBLY ENGAGES, A POWER UNIT ON SAID FRAME MEANS INCLUDING A BARRELMEMBER HAVING A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING AN EXPLOSIVE MEANS, MEANS ON SAIDBARREL MEMBER TO MAINTAIN SAID EXPLOSIVE MEANS WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, ARAM MEMBER MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER HAVING ONE END FOR ENGAGEMENTWITH ANOTHER ELEMENT OF SAID CONNECTION ASSEMBLY AND ANOTHER END FORDISPOSITION WITHIN A HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID EXPLOSIVE MEANS TO DEFINE ANENCLOSED CHAMBER, SAID EXPLOSIVE MEANS HAVING DETONATING MEANS FORDISPOSITION ADJACENT SAID OTHER END OF SAID RAM MEMBER, SAID OTHER ENDOF SAID RAM MEMBER BEING REACTIVELY DRIVEN AGAINST SAID DETONATING MEANSUPON SAID POWER UNIT BEING STRUCK A FORCEFUL BLOW TO DETONATE SAIDEXPLOSIVE MEANS THEREBY FORCEFULLY DRIVING SAID RAM MEMBER OUTWARDLYRELATIVE TO SAID BARREL MEMBER TO FORCEFULLY DRIVE THE OTHER ELEMENTINTO THE ONE ELEMENT.